Between a big phone call from the Central Stags selectors and a Uni exam, this has been a memorable week for young batsman CURTIS HEAPHY.

Heaphy was contracted to the Stags this year for the first time and is yet to play for the team in any format. That could be about to change, after a couple of freak early-season injury blows to Stags veterans in the top order.

The Plunket Shield squad had already lost regular captain and opening rock GREG HAY to a broken arm in the nets in the lead-up to the first match, and now veteran top order man BEN SMITH is also out for several weeks, following a ruptured testicle after having been hit on the box during the Stags' innings victory in Auckland last week.

Both players required surgical repairs, but their bad luck has opened the door for the standout 19-year-old from Manawatū.

Heaphy was CD's Under 19 Men's captain at last summer's age-group nationals, the first time CD lifted this NZC title.

A wicketkeeper and right-hand batsman, his range of shots and ability to calmly clock up big scores have been helping school, District, age-group and development teams win games throughout his teens.

Of Ngai Tāhu heritage, was also picked to represent New Zealand Māori Secondary School Boys for the past two seasons.

He started playing for the Central Districts A side when he was still in Year 11 at Palmerston North Boys' High, and debuted at senior level for Manawatū in 2018/19. But for a pandemic curve ball that prevented a New Zealand team from travelling, he would surely also have had a trip to the ICC U19 World Cup under his belt by now as well.

 

Curtis has been training regularly with the Stags squad as a contracted player, but was still getting used to the news that he was officially in a Plunket Shield squad for the first time.

"Rob Walter gave me the call just before I went into my Uni finance exam on Wednesday, which was surreal and pretty cool. I was still pretty fizzed up for the first half of my exam to be fair but it was all right, it made the exam a little bit better!"

Based at the team's hub in Hawke's Bay, Heaphy has been studying extramurally through Massey but was back home in Palmerston North at the time to sit his paper - which meant a bonus of being able to tell his parents the big news in person.

"Obviously they are pretty chuffed, and have started making plans to come down to Nelson.

"It's exciting, and I feel proud, but I'm also trying to prepare as normal like I would for any cricket game and not make the occasion too big in my mind."

Of course, that can be easier said that done, and he wouldn't be the first player to lose a bit of sleep on the eve of a possible debut when a thousand potential scenarios tend to parade through the cranium.

 

"Last night I didn't have the greatest sleep to be fair! I was already thinking about it, but I will hopefully be fine. At the start of the year, if you'd told me I would be in the squad for the third round of 2022/23 Plunket Shield, I would have been pretty surprised. But obviously I heard what happened to Ben in Auckland, and it was in the back of my mind then that I could get picked, as a contracted batter.

"The fact that I have been training so much with the guys and feel comfortable around them already will help the nerves.

"It's been going really well in the nets. I have hardly played any of the Northern Districts squad before other than Joe Walker at A level, so it's going to be a great challenge if I get to play. I'm very thankful to the CD selectors for giving me a crack at this stage, and it will be awesome if I get to play."

Fortunately, Heaphy has also now completed his Uni exams for the year.

BLAIR TICKNER | PHOTOSPORT

The Stags head into the Saxton Oval match just one point below the three-way logjam at the top of the table with Canterbury, the Wellington Firebirds and the Otago Volts the other frontrunners after two rounds.

Statistical highlights from the Stags' resounding win last week against the defending Plunket Shield champions included TOM BRUCE's 169, which included his 4000th first-class for the Central Stags. His prolific calendar year continues and he was supported by a strong tail.

The Stags' pace quartet of DOUG BRACEWELL, BRETT RANDELL, RAY TOOLE and BLAIR TICKNER was also outstanding with Bracewell picking up a five-wicket bag (5-25 and 1-37) in the quick first innings, and Randell (4-21 and 2-21) turning in his best haul yet after his first two impressive matches in the green cap.

PHOTOSPORT

All eyes will be on last season's leading Plunket Shield wicket-taker Randell in Nelson as he goes up against his former ND teammates for the first time in a spicy match-up.

Follow the match with the free livestream and livescoring here at www.cdcricket.co.nz from 10.30am each day.

After this week's home match at Saxton Oval, Nelson against Northern Districts, the Stags head to another of their home grounds, Palmerston North's Fitzherbert Park, to host the Wellington Firebirds in what will be the 100th first-class fixture between the two teams.

Round Three • 2022/23

CENTRAL STAGS v NORTHERN DISTRICTS

Saxton Oval, Stoke, Nelson

10.30am • Saturday 5 November - Tuesday 8 November 2022

SQUAD

(one change)

TOM Bruce (c) — Taranaki, RH batsman, off-spin bowler 

DOUG Bracewell — Hawke’s Bay, RH pace allrounder

JOSH Clarkson — Nelson, RH pace allrounder

DANE Cleaver (w) — Manawatu, RH wicketkeeper-batsman

CURTIS Heaphy (potential Stags and first-class debut) — Manawatu, RH batsman

AJAZ Patel — Hawke’s Bay, LH off-spin bowler

BRETT Randell — RH pace allrounder

BRAD Schmulian — Hawke’s Bay, RH batsman, leg-spin bowler

BLAIR Tickner — Hawke’s Bay, RH pace bowler

RAY Toole — Manawatu, LH pace bowler

BAYLEY Wiggins — Hawke’s Bay, RH batsman, wicketkeeper

WILL Young — Taranaki, RH batsman

Head Coach: ROB Walter

Contracted players unavailable for selection:

SETH Rance — Wairarapa

GREG Hay — Nelson (injury)

BEN Smith — Whanganui (injury)

NORTHERN DISTRICTS SQUAD

Joe Carter (c)

Jeet Raval

Henry Cooper

Bharat Popli

Tim Seifert

Colin de Grandhomme

Brett Hampton

Scott Kuggeleijn

Kristian Clarke

Neil Wagner

Joe Walker

Freddy Walker

Follow the campaign with hashtags:

#plunketshield #lovethestags 

Full season schedules

Article added: Friday 4 November 2022